Lucrezia Borgia was Joseph Aragon's graduating project from the National Theatre School, and its debut Winnipeg run shows a composer with uncommon talent and potential.

There's hardly enough room at the fringe festival to contain it. His musical about the notorious Renaissance murdering adulteress is running 10 minutes longer than festival's 90-minute limitation and, in an event jammed with solo shows, boasts 12 actors and five musicians on stage.

Aragon depicts Lucrezia as an unwilling family pawn who was told whom to marry to secure important alliances and whom to kill to advance the Borgia power base. The political scheming and garroting of those who know too much bring to mind The Godfather, circa 1500. Musically, the top numbers are The Spanish Cow, an insulting ditty directed at Lucrezia, and Letters, in which she and artistic soulmate Pietro Bembo profess their love.

The female performers shine brightest in the cast, especially the very watchable Andrea Houssin in the title role and Samantha Hill as the haughty Isabella. Kami Desilets, Heather Madill Jordan and Simon Miron also earn kudos. Lucrezia Borgia has a few confusing moments, but overall Aragon tells a good story.